National Grid has raised over £6,000 for the Special Olympics GB team by selling a cookery book of its staff’s favourite recipes.

The money raised from this recipe book will be presented to Special Olympic athletes from the East Midlands on Thursday 12 February at the National Grid office at Hinckley, Leicestershire. 

National Grid manager Hilary Buxton said, “The idea to produce a recipe book came from our inclusion and diversity team wishing to share cultural differences and what better way than by sharing recipes?

“We wanted traditional recipes that reminded people of things or places from their past or home country.  Who can fail to be transported back to school dinners by the sight of a steaming treacle sponge or off to a particularly good time in Spain with a bubbling pan of paella?”

Over 230 recipes from around the world make up the recipe book, giving a good idea of the diversity of National Grid’s staff.  The recipe book was sold for £5 to employees around the Hinckley, Northampton, Warwick, London and Newcastle offices. 

Hilary continued: “It’s wonderful to think that such a simple idea of creating a cookery book can now benefit the Special Olympians.   Our partnership with the SOGB team has grown over the years and the number of staff who volunteer to assist the athletes is growing as we get closer to the GB 2009 games.”

The money raised will be shared between four SOGB clubs in Leicester, Northampton, Newcastle and London.

National Grid is the official partner of the Special Olympics in Great Britain, the major provider of sporting opportunities for people with a learning disability.

Special Olympics Great Britain is a community driven programme which relies on volunteers to support its athletes. So far over 350 National Grid employees have registered to become volunteers and will assist the athletes in training sessions.

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For further information please contact Stephanie van Rosse, communications adviser on 07767 337343

National Grid
National Grid is an international electricity and gas company and one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world. We play a vital role in delivering gas and electricity to millions of people across Great Britain and northeastern US in an efficient, reliable and safe manner. We believe the power of action can play a major role in safeguarding our global environment for future generations and tackling the effects of climate change, providing all our customers with the highest standards of service through network investment and through our talented, diverse workforce.

National Grid owns the high-voltage electricity transmission network in England and Wales and operates the system across Great Britain. It also owns and operates the high pressure gas transmission system in Britain and its distribution business delivers gas to 11 million homes and businesses.

National Grid manages the National Gas Emergency Service freephone line 0800 111 999*.  

*All calls are recorded and may be monitored.

Special Olympics Great Britain
Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB) specialises in providing year-round sports training and competition in 24 Olympic-type sports, both summer and winter, for learning disabled children and adults from age 8 to 80.

Founded as part of the global Special Olympics movement in 1978, SOGB currently serves more than 8,000 athletes at local, regional, national and international levels. National Summer Games are held every 4 years.

SOGB is a registered charity supported by individual and corporate donations. It receives no government funding. National Grid is SOGB’s first Official Partner. 

One of the guiding principles of Special Olympics is that anyone, with encouragement, support and access to resources, can be provided with a positive sporting experience, raising their self-esteem and the expectations of the community around them. SOGB seeks to focus on ability not disability.
 
Special Olympics and Paralympics are two separate organisations. Special Olympics provides year-round sports and training opportunities for all learning disability levels. Paralympics provides elite-only level sports competition for multi-disabled groups including physical, blind and deaf.

www.sogb.org.uk